Watden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Watden is one of the names that was brought to England in the wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Watden family lived in Yorkshire, at Wadding.

Early Origins of the Watden family

The surname Watden was first found in Yorkshire where they are "perhaps the patronymical form of the Anglo-Saxon Wade." 1

Early History of the Watden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Watden research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1086, 1581, 1588, 1591, 1644 and 1657 are included under the topic Early Watden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Watden Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Watden include Wadding, Wadden, Waddyng, Wading and others.

Early Notables of the Watden family

More information is included under the topic Early Watden Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Watden family to Ireland

Some of the Watden family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 84 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Watden family

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Watdens to arrive on North American shores: Margaret Wadden from County Wexford who settled in St. John's Newfoundland in 1878; John Wadden settled in Heart's Content in Newfoundland in 1871; his name was also spelled Waddon.